Grey skies over Britain have given gardeners a silver lining in 2024: bumper crops of roses Grower Philip Harkness says that 2024 has been one of the best years for roses A very wet winter and spring meant roots were well watered before the summer Even football legend David Beckham has been planting at his Cotswold home By Colin Fernandez, Environmant Editor Published: 18:09 EDT, 17 August 2024 | Updated: 18:11 EDT, 17 August 2024 e-mail View comments The cloudy skies and frequent washouts in Britain this year have given gardeners a silver lining – a bumper crop of roses. Philip Harkness, chairman of The Harkness Rose Company, says that 2024 has been among the best years for growing the blooms in the past four decades. A breeder of more than 200 varieties of British rose, Harkness is having high yields at its nursery in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Bestsellers include the scarlet Chelsea Pensioner Rose, launched at the Chelsea Flower Show , and Chandos Beauty, which has fragrant salmon-pink flowers. Mr Harkness said: 'We had a very wet winter and spring, which meant the rain went down into the soil to the roots of established plants. Bloomin' lovely: Cloudy skies over Britain have resulted in a bumper year for roses, says top breeder Philip Harkness Even football legend David Beckham is getting in on the act - he posted a video on Instagram showing himself planting a shrub in the garden of his £12 million Cotswolds farmhouse 'That was the foundation of this year being a higher .